The soundtrack to an enchanted journey
The Delite Rancher | Phoenix, Arizona | 08/06/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Eventyr literally means adventure. It is a name associated with various Scandinavian fairy tales. These stories have inspired musicians going back to at least 1917 with Frederick Delius' orchestral composition by the same title. The mythos of the title isn't lost on Jan Garbarek, a musician well-steeped in regional culture. Garbarek succeeds in creating his own musical adventure with "Eventyr." 'Soria Maria' opens the album with Garbarek's signature sound. Hovering over an ambient soundscape, Garbarek's saxophone sounds like a zurna, reminiscing an Islamic prayer. In the upbeat 'Lillekort,' Nana Vasconcelos lays down a groove using the traps and what sounds like an udu. On the other hand, the title track drifts into a fantasy world complete with animal sounds and a set of orchestral bells. In this song, Garbarek employs a creative use of various aerophones. Like coming home to a warm hearth after a long journey, 'Weaving A Garland' is a comforting return to composition and melody. Alas, the traveler can not rest for long in "Eventyr" since the mystical enterprise continues with 'Once Upon A Time.' Maintaining an other-worldly soundscape, Vasconcelos plays berimbau on 'The Companion.' 'Snipp, Snapp, Snute' is pure enchantment. With 'East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon,' our journey ends on a dark note. The meandering composition ends with ethereal vocals that suggest the voices of mythical creatures. While leaving the wildwoods for the last time, these eerie voices wish the traveler farewell. With respect to John Abercrombie, he tends to play on the periphery, using his guitar to create atmosphere. Unlike other Garbarek releases from the 1980's, this never crossed the line into becoming new age. Playing real jazz, "Eventyr" features Garbarek's trademark sound of exotically inspired minimalism. Thanks to Jan Garbarek and his travel companions, "Eventyr" is a musical journey well-worth taking."
Peaks and valleys
IRate | 11/17/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"2 1/2
Garbarek's albums are rarely dull, though sometimes lacking substance. Here the lightly experimental exotic ambiance lingers too long in spots, but not without some palpable payoff."